At the very thought, a dozen names and factions instantly appeared on Ning Huan's mental list.
Shrek, who valued glory as life itself...
The four ambitious empires...
And the Titled Douluo, each with their own obsessions...
All of them were part of the plan.
Greed was, sometimes, the easiest weakness in human nature to control.
He temporarily pushed aside the schemes that kept bubbling up in his mind.
Only then did he look again at Ning Tian, who had just regained her composure and was now lowering her head in thought. He mused to himself:
Hmm, she seems to have grown up a lot.
At least she's not imitating her father on purpose like she used to.
It was exhausting to be around her.
Thinking of that, Ning Huan couldn't help shaking his head with a laugh, quickly driving the thought away.
Wasn't he being petty?
She was just a kid who'd been overprotected, idolized her father, and had all sorts of sect principles drilled into her every day.
It would've been strange if she hadn't tried to imitate him.
Was it really worth holding that against her...
Still, it might not be a bad thing to let a budding flower in the garden see the truth of the outside world a little sooner.
Like now, at least she wouldn't have to suffer several [Protagonist Beatdowns] before she truly grew up.
"If you've figured it out, then get up already."
As he spoke, Ning Huan walked over to Ning Tian and gently helped her to her feet.
"Otherwise, your little friend here is about to eat someone alive."
"You damn jerk, you know it!"
Sure enough, the moment he said that, Wu Feng, who'd been full of worry, flew into a rage.
"If you hadn't gone spouting nonsense, how could the young mistress have—"
"Feng Mei! Silence!"
Ning Tian had straightened her clothes. Her face was cold as she softly rebuked her.
"Today's matter ends here. Don't bring it up again!"
"Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Wu Feng's heart tightened at once. She immediately put away her anger and bowed in acknowledgment.
"Yes!"
There was no helping it. She hadn't understood what the two of them had been talking about, but she could still sense the unprecedented severity in her young mistress's voice.
Besides, there was plenty of time ahead. Only a fool would pick a fight now!
Seeing that Wu Feng had no objections, Ning Tian changed the subject herself, saying nothing more about Cang Lan.
"Brother Ning Huan, it's getting late. Let's go eat."
"I'll show you around while we're at it, so you don't get lost in your own sect."
With that, Ning Tian set off first, taking Wu Feng's hand as she led the way.
When she noticed Ning Huan standing there in thought without moving, she urged him on again and again.
"Hurry up! The sect disciples will be done with their morning cultivation soon!"
"Okay, coming."
Looking at the figure before him, no longer bearing any trace of imitation, Ning Huan felt a sense of accomplishment welling up inside him.
See? This was the kind of energy a nine-year-old should have.
How had Ning Hao raised his kid?
Remembering his own ridiculous experiences imitating adults, Ning Huan let a teasing remark slip out.
"Tsk, tsk. Smart and considerate. I wonder which family's little punk will be lucky enough to marry you someday."
"Ah! Brother Ning Huan, what are you saying? I'm only nine!"
"Exactly. You're already nine. In a noble family, you'd probably be engaged by now."
That gave Ning Huan a mischievous idea.
Then he glanced at Wu Feng, who looked flustered but was still pretending to be calm, and said pointedly:
"Putting that aside, look at Wu Feng. She's your age, and she already has someone she li—"
"!!!"
"Big brother, you're my real big brother from now on! You can't say that!"
"Please, be the bigger person and let me off!"
Wu Feng spun around in a panic, sprinted over, clapped a hand over his mouth, and begged for mercy—all in one smooth motion.
As she panicked over her little secret being exposed, she also wondered how Ning Huan had figured out that she liked Ning Tian.
She'd thought she'd done a pretty good job hiding it. Even the young mistress hadn't noticed.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
"Whoa, you're a little thing, but you've got quite a grip! No wonder you're a Power Attack System Soul Master!"
Relying on his height advantage, Ning Huan broke free and shoved Wu Feng away.
His eyes had been full of amusement, but it vanished in an instant.
He suddenly felt that some things were better dealt with when you were young.
By rights, he shouldn't have meddled in this. After all, it involved the bond between the two of them.
"But I took the position of first disciple, and Ning Tian calls me 'brother.'"
"Both in public and in private, I can't just look the other way."
As his words fell, Wu Feng's flushed face from embarrassment abruptly turned deathly pale. Her whole body trembled.
She was biting her lip so hard that blood flowed freely, filling her mouth with a metallic taste, yet she didn't even notice.
"So...you're going to separate us?"
"No."
"Just as I thou—huh? No?"
Having watched the girl's expression shift from defiance to shock and confusion, Ning Huan felt utterly helpless.
If he could help it, he really didn't want to meddle in other people's business.
Especially when it came to love.
Now, here was the problem!
It might not matter in the short term, but who knew what would happen later?
If he left things alone, Wu Feng would probably be manipulated and then stab them in the back at some crucial moment.
Don't ask how he knew.
The lessons of those who'd come before were plain as day. He couldn't afford to ignore them.
"Honestly, you two have been together since you were little, like sisters. I'd have to be out of my mind to break you up."
"Then why did you—"
Wu Feng was bewildered.
If you weren't going to separate us, why spell it out right in front of us?
Just to upset me and make fun of me?
"Honestly, if Cang Lan's ability hadn't alerted me, I wouldn't have bothered with either of you."
Ning Huan sighed and rubbed his forehead. Then he beckoned Ning Tian over and pushed her in front of him.
The girl, who'd been trying to escape, was suddenly at a loss.
"Wu Feng, you know that Uncle Ning has always been raising Ning Tian to be his successor."
"The position of sect master, the wishes of the sect masters throughout the generations, even the legacy of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda—all of it rests on one person."
"Do you think they'd allow your dream to come true?"
She didn't answer. Only the reluctance and tears in her scarlet eyes were unmistakable.
Because that was precisely the reality she'd been trying to avoid.
Seeing this, Ning Tian understood the whole situation and wanted to say something, but she couldn't get a single word out.
What could she say?
Reject Wu Feng outright?
Or say nothing and wait for time to smooth everything over?
She really couldn't understand what Wu Feng was thinking!
They could've just stayed good sisters, but she had to consider something so unrealistic!
It was fine if she thought too much, but it was a huge problem if Brother Ning Huan found out.
This young sect master had feelings for him!
But just as the two girls' thoughts diverged, Ning Huan's next words were something neither of them could have expected.
"Of course, I'm not trying to stop you from fighting for love."
"I just hope you're prepared to stand against the sect's senior leaders and the norms of the world."
"If you think Ning Tian will accept this relationship and stand by you to the very end, then forget everything I just said. It was all bullshit."
"But if you're not sure, then I advise you to give up sooner rather than later. Don't end up hurting yourself and others—and dragging someone else down with you."
Wu Feng: "!"
Ning Tian: "?"
"Wait a minute!"
"Does this make any sense?!"
Before you continue